A little known French city has been named the best city in the world for quality of life by the Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index.
Situated in south east France, the city of Grenoble beat the other 999 cities on the list to the top spot. Even more spectacularly, it scored full marks with 100/100. The “quality of life” category took into account life expectancy, income per person, income equality, housing expenditure, recreation and cultural sites, and… internet speed.
Money can’t buy happiness, but affordable renting definitely helps. In Grenoble, the average rental cost per metre squared is €13 ($14), which works out at approximately €640 ($687) a month for the average, unfurnished apartment in the city.
The green spaces in and around the city (Grenoble was the first city to elect a Green mayor, in 2014) was no doubt a big factor in the “recreation” sub-category that helped the city to clinch the top spot. Grenoble is ringed by three French regional parks: Vercors, Chartreuse and Belledonne. The first two boast ski resorts and the closest slopes to Grenoble city centre are just a 20 minute drive away. Mid-week lift passes are ridiculously cheap compared to the rest of the Alps (from as little as €15 / $16). In summer, these same parks lend themselves to incredible hiking and cycling routes.
Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index ranks the top cities in the world based on five categories: Economics, Human Capital, Quality of Life, Environment and Governance. And whilst Grenoble made the top spot for quality for life, it didn't actually make the top 10 in the overall score on the Index's 5 categories combined. That top honour went to New York, followed by: London, San Jose (US), Tokyo, Paris, Seattle, LA, San Francisco, Melbourne and Zurich.